Stories of the Prophets
Written by Al-Imam ibn Kathir
Translated by Muhammad Mustapha Geme’ah, Al-Azhar
www.islambasics.com
Adam Sees Eve
Ibn Abbas and a group of companions of the Prophet (PBUH) narrated that when Iblis was sent
out of Paradise and Adam was accommodated therein, Adam was alone in Paradise and did not
have a partner from whom he could get tranquility. He slept for some time and when he woke up,
he saw a woman whom Allah had created from his ribs. So he asked her, "Who are you? She
replied, "A woman" He asked: "Why have you been created?" She said :"So that you could find
tranquility in me." The angels, trying to find out the extent of his knowledge, asked him: "What is
her name, O Adam?" He replied, "Eve". They asked: "Why was she so named?" He replied, "
Because she was created from something living."
Eve's Creation
Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq and Ibn Abbas related that Eve was created from the shortest left rib of
Adam while he was sleeping and after awhile she was clothed with flesh. That is why Allah the
Exalted said:
"O Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam) and from
Him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women.
(Ch 4:1)
Allah also said:
"It is he Who has created you from a single person (Adam) and then He created from him his
wife (Eve), in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her."(Ch 7:189).
Establishing the Islamic Greeting
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "O Muslims! I advise you to be
gentle with women, for they are created from a rib, and the most crooked portion of the rib is its
upper part. If you try to straighten it, it will break and if you leave it, it will remain crooked, so I
urge you to take care of the women." (Sahih Bukhari).
Allah commanded Adam to dwell in Paradise: "O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Paradise
and eat both of you freely with pleasure and delight of things therein as wherever you will, but
come not near this tree or you both will be of the Zalimeen (wrong doers)."(Ch 2:35)
The Location of Adam and Eve's Paradise
The location of this Paradise is unknown to us. The Quran did not reveal it, and the commentators
had five different opinions. Some said that it was the paradise of our refuge and that its place was
heaven. Others regreted that statement because if it was the paradise of refuge Iblis would have
been forbidden admission and disobedience would have been forbidden as well. Still others said
that it was another paradise that was created by Allah for Adam and Eve. A fourth group said it
was a paradise on the earth located in a high place. Another group of commentators accept what
was in the Quran without questioning where this paradise was located. We agree with this last
opinion as the lesson we learn from its location is immaterial compared to the lesson we learn
from the events that took place there.
Allah's Warning to Adam and Eve
Adam and eve were admitted to Paradise and there they lived the dream of all human beings.
Allah permitted them to approach and enjoy everything except one tree, that might have been the
Tree of Pain or the Tree of Knowledge. Allah forbade them they were give abode in Paradise.
"But come not near this tree or you both will be of the wrong doers." (Ch 2:35)
Adam's Weakness
Adam and Eve understood that they were forbidden to eat the fruit of that tree. Adam was
however a human being and man tends to forget. His heart changes and his will weakens. Iblis
summoned all the envy within him and took advantage of Adam's humanity to exploit him. He
started to whisper to him day after day, coaxing him: "Shall I guide you to the Tree of
Immortality and the Eternal Kingdom?" He said to them:
"Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the
immortals." He (Satan) swore by Allah to them both saying: "Verily I am one of the sincere well
wishers for you both." (Ch 7:20-21)
Adam asked himself: "What will happen if I eat from this tree? It might truly be the Tree of
Immortality." His dream was to live forever in the pure innocence of Paradise."
Years went by, and Adam and Eve were preoccupied with thoughts of that tree. Then one day
they decided to eat of its fruit. They forgot that Allah had warned them not to approach it and
that Iblis was their sworn enemy. Adam stretched out his hand, picked one of the fruits and
offered it to Eve. They both ate of the forbidden tree.
Allah Almighty told us: "So he (Satan) misled them with deception." (Ch 7:22)
Allah said: "Thus did Adam disobey his Lord so he went astray." (Ch 20:121).
According to the old Testament, Eve was tempted by the serpent to eat of the forbidden tree. She
ate because of the words of the serpent and fed Adam some of it. At that moment, their eyes were
opened to the fact that they were naked, and they took the leaves of the fig tree to cover
themselves. Wahb Ibn Munabah said that their clothing (before their sin) was made of light on the
private parts of both of them.This story in the Old Testament is a falsification and deception.
Allah the Almighty revealed:
"O Children of Adam! Let not Satan deceive you, as he got your parents (Adam and Eve) out of
Paradise stripping them of their rainments; to show them their private parts. Verily he and
Qabiluhu (his soldiers from the jinn or his tribe) see you from where you cannot see them.
Verily, We made the devils (protectors and helpers) for those who believe not." (Ch 7:27)
Adam had hardly finished eating when he felt his heart contract, and he as filled with pain,
sadness and shame. The surrounding atmosphere had changed and the internal music had stopped.
He discovered that he and his wife were naked, so they both started cutting tree leaves with which
to cover themselves.
Condensed Story of Adam and Allah's Promise
Allah the Almighty addressed him:
"Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you: Verily Satan is an open enemy unto you?" They said:
"Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your
Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers." Allah said; "Get down, one of you an enemy to the
other (Adam, Eve, and Satan etc). On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment,
for a time." He said: "Therein you shall live and therein you shall die, and from it you shall be
brought out (resurrected)." (7:22-25).
Again there are old stories about these events. Al Hafez Ibn Asaker narrated that Allah
commanded two angels to remove Adam from His holy proximity. So Gabriel stripped him of the
crown on his head, and Michael took the diadem from his forehead. Adam thought that his
punishment had been hastened and bowed down crying; "Forgiveness! Forgiveness!" so Allah
asked: "Are you running away from Me?" Adam replied, "No, my Lord, but I am shy of You."
Abdul Rahman Ibn Amru Al - Awza'iy said that Adam spent 100 years in Paradise. In another
narration it was said he spent 60 years. Ibn Asaker reported that Adam wept for 60 years for his
loss of Paradise and 70 years for his mistake, and he wept for another 70 years when his son was
killed. They left Paradise and descended upon the earth. Adam was sad and Eve was crying. Allah
accepted their repentance because it was sincere and He told them that the earth would be their
realm and origin where they would live and die and whence they would come on the Day of
Judgment.
Allah the Almighty recounted this third lesson Adam learned in Paradise:
"Indeed We made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and We found on his part no firm
will power. Remember when We said to the angels "Prostrate yourselves to Adam." They
prostrated (all) except Iblis, who refused. then We said: "O Adam! verily, this is an enemy to you
and to your wife. so let him not get you both out of Paradise, so that you be distressed in misery.
Verily, you have (a promise from Us) that you will never be hungry therein nor naked. And you
will suffer not from thrist therein nor from the sun's heat."
then Satan whispered to him, saying "O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a
kingdom that will never waste away?" Then they both ate of that tree, and so their private parts
appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves the leaves from Paradise for their
covering. Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray. Then his Lord chose him, and
turned to him with forgiveness and gave him guidance.
Allah said: "Get you down (upon the earth), both of you, together from Paradise, some of you
are an enemy to some others. THen if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever
follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. But whosoever
turns away from My Reminder (neither believes in this Quran nor acts on its orders etc). Verily,
for him is a life of hardship and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection."
He will say: "O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight before." Allah will
said: "like this, Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc). came unto
you, but you disregarded them (you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away
from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected in the Hellfire, away from Allah's Mercy.)"
And thus do We requite him who transgresses beyond bounds (commits the great sins and
disobeys his Lord (allah) and believes not in His Messengers, and His revealed Books, like this
Quran etc), and believes not in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations,
etc). of his Lord, and the torment of the Hereafter is far more severe and more lasting." (Ch 20:115-127)
Commentary: Why Adam and Eve Descended
Some people believe that the reason why mankind does not dwell in Paradise is that Adam was
disobedient and that if it had not been for this sin, we could have been there all along. These are
naive fictions because when Allah wanted to create Adam, He said to the angels, "I shall make a
vicegerent on the earth." He did not say, "I shall make a vicegerent in Paradise."
Adam's descent on earth, then, was not due to degradation but rather it was dignified descent.
Allah knew that Adam and Eve would eat of the tree and descend to earth. He knew that Satan
would rape their innocence. That experience was essential for their life on earth; it was a
cornerstone of their vicegerency. It was meant to teach Adam, Eve, and their progeny that it was
Satan who had caused them to be expelled from Paradise and that the road to Paradise can only
be reached by obedience to Allah and enmity to Satan.
Commentary: Adam's Free Will
Could it be said that Adam and the rest of mankind were predestined to sin and to be expelled
from Paradise and sent to the earth? In fact, this fiction is as naive as the first one.
Adam complete free will, and he bore the consequences of his deed. He disobeyed by eating of the
forbidden tree, so Allah dismissed him from Paradise. His disobedience does not negate his
freedom. On the contrary it is a consequence of it.
The truth of the matter is that Allah knew what was going to happen, as He always know the
outcome of events before they take place. However Allah does not force things to happen. He
grants free will to His human creatures. On that He bases His supreme wisdom in populating the
earth, establishing the vicegerents, and so on.
Adam understood his 3rd lesson. He knew now in a practical way that Iblis was his enemy, the
cause of his losing the blessing of living in Paradise, and the cause of his distress. Adam also
understood that Allah punishes disobedience and that the way of Paradise has to be through
submission to the will of Allah. And he learned from Allah Almighty to ask for forgiveness.
Allah accepted Adam's repentance and forgave him. He then sent him to the earth as His first messenger.
Encounter Between Adam and Moses (PBUT) - Hadith
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger (PBUH) said: "Adam and Moses argued with each
other. Moses said to Adam: 'Your sin expelled you from Paradise.' Adam said: ' You are Moses
whom Allah selected as His messenger and as the one to whom He spoke directly. Yet you blame
me for a thing which had already been written in my fate before my Creation?" Allah's Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) said twice, "So Adam outclassed Moses." (Sahih Bukhari).
Umar Ibn Al Khattab also narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Moses (PBUH)
said: 'My Lord! May I see Adam who removed us and himself from the Paradise?" So Allah made
him see Adam and he said to him: "Are you Adam?" Adam said: "Yes." And he said "Were you
the one in Whom Allah breathed His spirit and before whom He bowed His angels and to whom
He taught the names of all things?" Adam answered: "Yes." So Moses said: "What made you
remove us and yourself from Paradise.?" Adam said: "Who are you?" Moses said: "I am Moses."
Adam said: "So you are Moses the prophet of the Children of Israel. Were you the one Allah
spoke to directly?" Moses answered "Yes." Adam said: "Why do you blame me for a matter
which Allah had predestined?" So Allah’s Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said twice. "Adam
outclassed Moses." (Sahih al Bukhari).
Variation of Where Adam, Eve, and Iblis Descended
There are many traditions concerning the place of Adam's descent upon earth. Ibn Abi Hatim
narrated that Ibn Abbas said: "Adam descended on land 'Dihna' between Mecca and Taif." Al -Hassan
said that Adam descended in India and Eve in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Iblis Bodistiman
(Iraq), and the serpent in Ashahan (Iran). This last was also reported by Ibn Hatim.
Ass'ady related that Adam descended with the Black Stone (a large black stone set into the wall of
the ka'ba in Mecca. It is said to have come from Paradise) in India, and he had a handful of the
seeds of Paradise. He sowed them in India and they grew into the fragrant tree therein.
Ibn Umar said that Adam descended on As-Safa and Eve on Al Marwa ( names of two mountains
in the vicinity of the sacred house in Mecca. Part of the rites of pilgrimage (hajj) includes pacing
between these two hills in commemoration of Hajar's search for water). This was also reported by
Ibn Hatim. Abdul Razzaq reported that Abi Musa Al-shari said that when Allah ordered Adam to
descend from Paradise to earth, He taught him the making of everything and provided him with
the crops from Paradise.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The best of days on which the
sun has risen is Friday. One this day Adam was created, and on this day he was descended to
earth." (al Bukhari)
